Sedbergh School
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We Sedbergh School will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 Sedbergh School recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
We also pledge the following:
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Sedbergh School will promote the Armed Forces by providing pupils with the opportunity to explore Armed Forces careers at internal and external careers fairs.
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Encouraging members of staff to participate as Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, complete their formal training and take advantage of the wide range of qualifications available.
- Through job opportunities in a range of roles in the School for those transitioning from the services to new careers, veterans and service spouses and with modern apprenticeship training in:
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Post Graduate Certificates in Education.
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Business specific areas such as Human Resources and Finance.
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Operational support in maintenance (electricians, joiners and general maintenance skills), hospitality and housekeeping.
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Providing opportunities for businesses with links to the Armed Forces and veterans to work with the School.
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The School website provides information for military families on the School and through the School social media updates.
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A team from the School provides roadshows for current and prospective parents at various locations in the North of England and Scotland as well as attending education fairs at military bases.
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The School will provide details of employment opportunities through the Forces Employment Charity.
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There are several veterans currently employed at the School in a range of roles from senior leadership, teaching, business posts and operations.
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Maintaining close links with former pupils serving in the Armed Forces.
- Provision Of dedicated assistance in finding suitable rental accommodation in and around the Sedbergh area as well as information about local facilities.
-Sedbergh School Offers education for children Of serving regular military personnel with fees capped at the CEA plus 10% of the boarding fee for the appropriate age group.
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Sedbergh is a full boarding School where children live and feed in the family environment of their boarding houses and there is a full range of activities in evenings and weekends, with children having limited opportunity to become bored or homesick.
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The detailed care of children which is provided by pastoral and teaching staff is particularly important in catering for the needs and concerns of children of those serving in the Armed Forces, with parents often based overseas or deployed on demanding operations.
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Pupils are taken on a battlefield tour of Flanders and the Somme to reinforce the lessons of past conflicts.
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Each year pupils attend the Menin Gate ceremony and in recent years pupils have piped and the School Choir have sung there.
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The whole School participates in the British Legion Poppy Appeal and a full service of remembrance commemorating former pupils who gave their lives in both world wars and other conflicts.
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.